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Beer Review: Goose Island’s The Ogden Tripel

From Chicago’s own Goose Island I have a review of their new May release from this year, The Ogden a Belgian Style Tripel. Tripels aren’t normally a style I seek out but when I saw this one was dry-hopped with Citra, Brewers Gold and Saaz hops I was intrigued. The important part of that last statement being Citra hops. I like the little bit from the brewery about this one and why it is named The Ogden so from the brewery: “William Ogden opened Chicago’s first brewery. He was the city’s first mayor. And he added the North Brand channel to the Chicago River that created the island from which we take our name. Three good reasons why we gave our first-ever Belgian Style Tripel his name.” The Ogden comes in at 9% ABV and 35 IBUs.

Appearance: Slightly hazy golden orange with a quickly dissipating 1/2 finger head. Really nice color and lots and lots of bubbles coming from the bottom of the glass too which makes it a fun beer to look at. Poured into a Nonic pint as that is what the bottle indicated as proper glassware.

Nose: Fruity and yeasty typical belgian aromas with some tropical fruit and clove. Pleasant mix of typical Belgian aromas and some fruity hop aromas as well.

Taste/Mouth: Mix of Belgian spiciness and fruit with some hop flavors and bitterness. Can barely sense the 9% at all. Finish is pleasant not too bitter or hot. The nice carbonation give your tongue a nice bite but keeps the mouth of this beer very nice. Really easy tripel to drink which I don’t know how often I have ever said that. Has some characteristics of like a Belgian Pale Ale as well which make it easier to drink.

Availability/Price: Limited May release but it seems like it will be a yearly release now. The price wasn’t bad either considering it is 9%.

Overall: Citra made me buy it and I wasn’t really disappointed I purchased it. A pretty enjoyable tripel which is a style that I definitely don’t normally seek out or drink often. A nice updated Americanized version of a classic style.